Huskers add veteran assistant Elliott to coach safeties

Nebraska coach Mike Riiley has added Bob Elliott to the Husker football coaching staff. Elliott brings 38 years of college coaching experience to the Nebraska program, including the past five seasons at Notre Dame.

Elliott will coach the Nebraska safeties in 2017, and joins a defensive staff that is led by first-year coordinator Bob Diaco who was hired in January. Elliott and Diaco served on the same Notre Dame staff in 2012 and 2013.

“Bob Elliott has great respect throughout football for his defensive knowledge and ability as a coach, teacher and recruiter,” Riley said. “The experience he brings to our staff will be a great asset as we install a new defensive system and build toward the future success of the Blackshirts.”

Elliott played at Iowa in the mid-70s and has spent 32 of his 36 on-field seasons coaching defense, primarily as a defensive backs coach or defensive coordinator. He has a combined 11 years of defensive coordinator experience at San Diego State, Kansas State, Iowa and Ball State. Elliott has been a part of 18 bowl teams during his career.

Elliott was on Hayden Fry’s Iowa staff for 11 years as an assistant (1987-94, 1996-98). He worked as the secondary coach for eight years and was the defensive coordinator for his final three years from 1996 to 1998. Iowa played in seven bowl games during his time as an assistant, including the 1991 Rose Bowl.